Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TSR-FOR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

15 mm/hr
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

An infiltration rate of less than 40 mm/hr for clayey soils and less than 15 mm/hr for sandy soils indicates severe structural degradation.

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate below which essential ecosystem functions are significantly impaired, indicating severe structural degradation.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the lower critical infiltration rate threshold for sandy soils in tropical and subtropical rainforest production forestry, below which soil structure is severely degraded and ecosystem functions are impaired.

Justification:

Based on quantitative data from heavily compacted skid trails representing severe mechanical disturbance.

Sources (1)

Preview of Natural recovery of skid trails: a review
Natural recovery of skid trails: a review Journal

Natural recovery of skid trails: a review

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Reduced-impact logging: Challenges and opportunities - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025
(PDF) Reduced-impact logging: Challenges and opportunities - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Reduced-impact logging: Challenges and opportunities - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Runoff generation in tropical forests (Chapter 14) - Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics - Cambridge University Press
Runoff generation in tropical forests (Chapter 14) - Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics - Cambridge University Press
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Runoff generation in tropical forests (Chapter 14) - Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics - Cambridge University Press

View Source
Preview of Soil disturbance and post-logging forest recovery on bulldozer paths in Sabah, Malaysia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Soil disturbance and post-logging forest recovery on bulldozer paths in Sabah, Malaysia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Using ecosystem integrity to maximize climate mitigation and minimize risk in international forest policy - Frontiers

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold marks the transition from infiltration-dominated to runoff-dominated hydrological regime with long recovery times. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-FOR-SWI family.